Hassan six gives Afghanistan big lead

Afghanistan's bowlers dominated the second day in Ayr even more emphatically than their batsmen did the first, as they built a 296-run first-innings advantage over Scotland. Samiullah Shenwari's maiden first-class hundred and Hamid Hassan's six-wicket haul were the highlights of the day leaving Scotland staring at a tough ask if they are to save the match.

Shenwari carried on his form from the first evening, stroking three boundaries in the first three overs of the day but Asghar Stanikzai could not last long, flicking straight to fine-leg seven short of a century. The tail then gave Shenwari some anxious moments as he tried to farm the strike and reach his hundred. He managed it with a sweep behind square with the last man, Shapoor Zadran, for company before Afghanistan were bowled out for 435. Then Hassan took centrestage.

He began his spell in unlucky fashion, with second slip dropping an edge from Fraser Watts and conceding four. Hassan was not to be denied for long though, and had Watts nicking in the same direction later in the over. Ryan Flannigan was out run-out leaving Scotland stuttering at 39 for 2. Richie Berrington and Ewan Chalmers resisted briefly before Hassan triggered a procession of the middle order. Seven wickets well for 19 runs over 14 overs, with Hassan accounting for five of them. Four of his victims were out edging to the wicketkeeper as he reaped the rewards for putting the ball on the corridor and extracting movement.

N0. 11 Dewald Nel went after the bowling to avert embarrassment as Scotland crossed three figures. Nel reached his highest first-class score of 36 in a tenth-wicket stand of 63 with Simon Smith before Scotland were bowled out. Afghanistan had one over to negotiate before stumps and they saw it through, setting their sights on consolidating their big lead on the third day.